Wednesday, 23 July 2014

Turkey has come a very long way in terms of fashion and textile. Cotton is widely grown in Turkey, making the country one of the top producers of clothing and various textiles. The labor in Turkey is also cheap, can be comparable to China, which means, world wide known fashion brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and many more produce their items in Turkey. You can also find the infamous 'Made in Turkey' stamp in more affordable clothing brands such as H&M, Zara, Bershka, Pull & Bear to name a few.

My favorite brand I will talk about here is Twist. It is under the same umbrella of clothing as Ipekyol which also does a more couture line called Machka. Ipekyol produces clothing for ages 30-35+ with the emphasis on clean lines mainly for the modern working women. Twist is the younger line for teens, and young adults (of course also for those 35+s who love to feel young).

A fun fact is also that the main Ipekyol Textiles Building has won the Aga Khan Prize for architecture in the year 2010. Lucky to note here that the clothes are just as beautifully designed and created as the building.

Here I want to include some of my favorite looks from the Spring-Summer 2014 line. Conveniently the line is now on sale with reductions up to 70%. One of the reasons why I am looking forward to going to Turkey! Shopping is always a good therapy when done correctly. If you want to purchase any of the items, the online store is now open! All the prices are written in Turkish, however to translate it to euros use the ratio 1:2 and to pound 1:3, you will find the items are actually of very decent price! I can also guarantee you will be getting good quality products worth your investment.

Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Hello from Macedonia, a beautiful country with many natural riches and cultural activity. It is a historically significant piece of land during the Ottoman rule. There has been many cultural exchanges over the centuries in the Balkan area. Ottomans brought their own culture and customs which were then taken in by the locals and spread, also vice versa.

Lake Ohrid is especially beautiful earning the title of the Balkan region's largest (covers a 358km squared) and deepest lake. Considering the lake can be as deep as 300m, one should be cautious when swimming, surfing or being adventurous. Since it is a lake with no direct connection to the sea, the water is sweet and drinkable. For someone who usually spends time by the sea, dippig into the lake and not tasting salt was a memorable experience. Another interesting fact about the lake is that 1/3 is shared by the neighboring country, Albania. Throughout the history there has been a struggle between Macedonia and Albania. This is still true in the country. Recent news report a protest in the capital Skopje regarding protests over slayings, where Ethnic Albanians carried out a demonstration. I find it unbelievable how human kind cannot except each other, especially if you are neighboring countries with a shared history. The lake is so pure. Such a pure border between the tension.

Vevchani is probably the most breath taking place to visit. It is known for its natural springs. On top of the mountain amongst the green with clear water streaming. The water here is cold and drinkable. The atmosphere is so nostalgic. Mountains and streams of water. However, it is severely lacking efforts of conservation. Some of the houses can be better kept. It is important to take care of culture and conserve it so that tourism benefits from it even more. With the way it is right now, however, it is a winner.

Of all the places my personal favorite was the St. Naum Monestary above a hill, overlooking the lake. So perfect and well organized. St. Noum is believed to be one of the saints who has started the Slavic culture and spread it across the land.